Self-latching security device for public coin-operated telephones

ABSTRACT

A self-latching security device for public coin-operated telephones includes spring-biased latch pins which replace security mounting screws to simplify installation of such telephones with requisite security against theft of the telephone or the coin collection box of the telephone.

United States Patent 1191 Trimmer et a1.

[ SELF-LATCHING SECURITY DEVICE FOR PUBLIC COIN-OPERATED TELEPHONES [75] Inventors: Paul A. Trimmer, Berkeley Heights; Fred M. Cirule, Parsippany, both of [73] Assignee: Amerace Corporation, New York,

[22] Filed: June 20, 1973 211 Appl. No.2 371,617

52 us. 0 179/146 R, 179/6.3 R, 179/179, 194/44 1511 Int. Cl. 1104111 1/04 58 Field 61 Search 179/189, 146, 147, 148, 179/151, 153, 6.3 R,179,14,183;194/44,1 A, DIG. 13

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,148,024 2/1939 Koch .."179/146R Primary ExaminerWilliam C. Cooper Assistant Examiner-Gerald L. Brigance Attorney, Agent, or FirmSamuelson & Jacob [57] ABSTRACT A self-latching security device for public coinoperated telephones includes spring-Biased latch pins which replace security mounting screws to simplify installation of such telephones with requisite security against theft of the telephone or the coin collection box of the telephone.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEB 25 I975 SHKU 2 [IF 3 SELF-LATCI-IING SECURITY DEVICE FOR PUBLIC COIN-OPERATED TELEPHONES The present invention relates generally to the installation of public, coin-operated telephones and pertains, more specifically, to a self-latching security device which enables simplified installation of such telephones with the requisite security against theft of the telephone or the coins collected therein.

Many coin-operated public telephones presently are installed by a procedure which, for security purposes, requires two men. An installer is responsible for the installation and proper hook-up of the telephone, while a coin collector installs the coin receptacle and locks the coin compartment of the telephone. The reason for the two-man requirement is that the installer must insert mounting screws through apertures in the rear wall of the telephone housing which can be reached only through the coin compartment. After these screws are installed, the coin collector locks the coin compartment not only to secure later collected coins against theft, but to close-off access to the screws behind the coin compartment so as to prevent theft of the telephone itself. In order to maintain adequate security, the installer is not provided with a key to the coin compartment; hence, the requirement for two men in accomplishing each installation.

It is an object of the invention to provide a security device which eliminates the need for two men to be present at the installation of each telephone, while providing the same measure of security as outlined above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a security device which can be installed in present telephone housings without modification of the housings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a security device which can be installed at the factory, enabling the coin compartment of the telephone to be locked at the factory and eliminating the need for a coin collector at the installation site.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a security device which is simple in design and construction and easily installed for virtually fool-proof operation.

The above objects, as well as still further objects and advantages, are attained by the invention which can be described briefly as providing, in a public, coinoperated telephone installation system wherein a telephone housing, having at least one aperture therein communicating with the interior and exterior thereof at a predetermined location in the housing and a coin compartment therein which is lockable to close-off access to the aperture through the interior of the housing, is secured to a mounting board by fasteners which are affixed to the housing, extend longitudinally to enter the mounting board, and secure the housing thereto upon relative lateral movement between the housing and the mounting board, the mounting board having an opening at a position corresponding to the location of the aperture in the housing when the housing is secured by the fasteners to themounting board, a self-latching security device comprising at least one latch pin, and means for mounting the latch pin within the aperture of the housing for resilient deflection between an advanced position wherein the latch pin extends longitudinally from the housing for entering the corresponding opening in the mounting board, and a retracted position wherein the latch pin is retracted from the opening, with the mounting means resiliently biasing the latch pin toward the advanced position whereby the latch pin will be deflected to the retracted position by contact with the mounting board until relative lateral movement between the housing and the mounting board aligns the aperture with the opening to permit advancement of the latch pin to the advanced position and concomitant locking of the housing against further lateral movement relative to the mounting board.

The invention will be more fully understood, while still further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent, by reference to the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view ofa telephone housing and coin collection boxto be installed upon a mounting board;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a security device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the security device in place in the telephone housing;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3, but with the security device locked in place;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are side elevational views of the telephone housing and mounting board, illustrating various stages of installation of the telephone housing with the security device.

Referring now to the drawing, and especially to FIG. 1 thereof, a telephone housing of the type used in connection with public, coin-operated telephones is illustrated generally at 10. Housing 10 has a back wall 12 within which there are a plurality of upper apertures 14 and lower apertures 16. A coin compartment 18 is located in front of the back wall 12 and receives a coin collection box 20 which, by means of a cover plate 21 which carries a lock 22, can be locked in place within the coin compartment 18. When the coin collection box 20 is locked in place, access to the lower apertures 16 is closed off.

Housing 10 is to be installed upon a mounting board 24 which is a part of a fixed installation at the site of the installation. Mounting board 24 has a plurality of upper openings 26, corresponding in location to upper apertures 14, and lower openings 28, corresponding in location to lower apertures 16. Upper openings 26 have a slotted, key-hole" configuration including an enlarged upper portion 30 and a narrower lower portion 32. Fasteners in the form of step-bolts 34 (see FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) are affixed in upper apertures 14 and project longitudinally outwardly from the back of the housing 10, each step-bolt 34 having a head 36 complementary to upper portion 30 of anopening 26 and a shoulder 38 complementary to lower portion 32.

Ordinarily, housing 10 would be installed upon mounting board 24 in the presence of two men; namely, a telephone installer and a coin collector. The installer would place the housing 10 against the mounting board 24, with the heads 36 of the step-bolts 34 passing longitudinally through corresponding upper portions 30 of openings 26 and then would move the housing 10 laterally downwardly relative to the mounting board 24 to pass shoulders 38 into lower portions 32, whereby the heads 36 of the step-bolts 34 would secure the housing against the mounting board 24. Then, with the coin collection box removed from the housing, the installer would insert security screws (not shown) through lower apertures 16 into lower openings 28 to secure the housing 10 against lateral movement relative to the mounting board 24, thereby precluding removal of the housing from the mounting board without removal of the security screws. Access to the coin compartment 18, and hence to the security screws, is closed off by the placement and locking of the coin collection box 20 in the coin compartment by the coin collector. For security reasons, the installer is not provided with a key to the coin compartment.

The security device of the present invention enables the telephone housing 10 to be installed upon mounting board 24 without access to the coin compartment 18, yet with essentially the same measure of security. The coin collection box 20 may be placed within the coin compartment and locked in place in the factory. Since removal of the coin collection box is not required for installation of the housing 10 an installer can accomplish essentially the same secure installation without the presence of a coin collector. Savings in labor costs are thus realized.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a security device constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated at 40. Security device 40 includes a body 42 constructed of a resiliently deflectable material such as spring steel, the body having opposite, essentially flat arms 44 terminating in opposite ends 46. A latch pin 48 is affixed to each arm 44 adjacent the end 46 thereof and projects generally perpendicular to the flat surface of the arm. A

tongue 50 extends downwardly, intermediate the ends 46 and carries a tab 52. Just above the tongue 50 is located a bushing 54 and a member in the form of an eccentric 56 mounted for rotation relative to the bushing by means of a shaft 58 passing through the bushing, all as will be explained in greater detail below.

Returning now to FIG. 1, housing 10 is provided with a plate 60 affixed to the inside of the back wall 12 of the housing, as by welding. Plate 60 includes a portion 62 spaced from the back wall 12 and having a hole 64 passing through portion 62, but not through the back wall. Thus, hole 64 is a blind hole in that access to the hole is gained only from the interior of the housing 10. A slot 66 is located in portion 62 of the plate 60, immediately below hole 64.

Security device 40 is installed in housing 10 in the factory, before the coin collection box 20 is put in place, by locating the bushing 54 in hole 64, as seen in FIGS. 3 through 6. Bushing 54 and hole 64 are complementary in dimensions and configuration sothat the bushing is seated in the hole. The relative location of the bushing 54 and latch pins 48 is such that upon seating of the bushing in hole 64, latch pins 48 will enter lower apertures 16 and will project longitudinally from the back wall 12 of the housing 10, as seen in FIG. 7. At the same time, tab 52 will be inserted into slot 66, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the eccentric 56 will be located adjacent the rear surface 68 of plate portion 62, surface 68 being the surface opposite to front surface 70, against which body 42 rests.

Shaft 58, which carries the eccentric 56 at one end thereof, also carries a slotted head 72 which can be turned to rotate the shaft and move the eccentric between a first position, illustrated in FIG. 4, and a second position, illustrated in FIG. 6. In the first position,

the eccentric 56 is aligned with the bushing 54 so that the eccentric can be passed through hole 64. Turning the slotted head 72 through a half-turn will rotate the eccentric 56 into the second position wherein the portion 62 of plate is clamped between the eccentric and the body 42 so that the body is locked in place in the housing 10. A visual indication of the position of the eccentric is provided by the word LOCK, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. When the L is aligned with the OCK, as seen in FIG. 5, the eccentric is in the locking position illustrated in FIG. 6. Thus, means are pro-, vided for anchoring the body in place within the housing with the latch pins 48 mounted within lower apertures 16 so as to project from the back wall 12 of housing 10. After such installation of security device 40, the coin collection box 20 may be installed, in the factory, and the coin compartment 18 locked.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 through 9, an installer in the field follows a procedure similar to the initial steps of the current conventional installation procedure. As seen in FIG. 7, the housing 10 is brought toward the mounting board 24 with the heads 36 of the step-bolts 34 aligned longitudinally with the upper portions 30 of upper openings 26 in the mounting board 24. The latch pins 48, in this position, are not aligned with the lower openings 28 of the mounting board.

Turning to FIG. 8, the housing 10 is then pushed against the mounting board 24, thereby passing the heads 36 of the stepbolts 34 through the upper portions 30 of upper openings 26. Because the latch pins 48 are not aligned with lower openings 28, the latch pins will abut the mounting board and will be deflected as the housing moves against the mounting board. The resilient property of the material of body 42 of security device 40 enables the body to serve as a leaf spring allowing resilient deflection of arms 44 and permitting the latch pins 48 to be retracted from the advanced position illustrated in FIG. 7 to the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 8.

Upon downward lateral movement of the housing 10 relative to mounting board 24, to the relative positions illustrated in FIG. 9, the shoulders 38 of step-bolts 34 pass into the lower portions 32 of upper openings 26 enabling the heads 36 to be captured by the mounting board 24, thereby securing the housing to the mounting board. At the same time, latch pins 48 will be brought in alignment with lower openings 28 and the resilient bias of the deflected arms 44 of body 42 of security device 40 will drive the latch pins 48 into lower openings 28. Once the latch pins 48 are seated within the lower openings 28, further lateral movement of the housing 10 relative to the mounting board is precluded and the housing is secured upon the mounting board. Since access to the security device 40 is permitted only through the coin compartment 18 and since the coin compartment is locked, the security device cannot be disarmed and the housing cannot be moved laterally upwardly to be removed from the mounting board.

It is noted that the security device 40 cannot be rendered ineffective prior to installation by attempts to force retraction of latch pins 48 beyond the retracted position and then to rotate the body 42 about the bushing 54. Such rotation is precluded by the engagement of tab 52 within slot 66.

Thus, installation of housing 10 upon mounting board 24 is accomplished by an installer without the presence of a coin collector and without a key to the coin compartment 18 since security device 40 is selflatching and access to the security device 40 by the installer is not required. Hence, the desired degree of security is attained.

When it is desired to remove the housing from the mounting board 24 in a legitimate fashion, the coin compartment 18 is opened with the appropriate key, the coin box 20 is removed and access is gained to security device 40. The slotted head 72 need merely be rotated through a half-turn to unlock the eccentric 56 by aligning the eccentric with the bushing 54. The entire security device 40 may then be withdrawn from the back wall 12 of the housing, thereby retracting the latch pins 48 from the lower openings 28 and permitting removal of the housing 10 from the mounting board 24.

[t is to be understood that the above detailed description of an embodiment of the invention is provided by way of example only. Various details of design and construction may be modified without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a public, coin-operated telephone installation system wherein a telephone housing, having at least one aperture therein communicating with the interior and exterior thereof at a predetermined location in the housing and a coin compartment therein which is lockable to close-off access to said aperture through the interior of the housing, is secured to a mounting board by fasteners which are affixed to the housing, extend longitudinally to enter the mounting board, and secure the housing thereto upon relative lateral movement between the housing and the mounting board, said mounting board having an opening at a position corresponding to the location of the aperture in the housing when the housing is secured by the fasteners to the mounting board, a self-latching security device comprising:

at least one latch pin; and

means for mounting the latch pin within the aperture of the housing for resilient deflection between an advanced position wherein the latch pin extends longitudinally from the housing for entering the corresponding opening in the mounting board, and a retracted position wherein the latch pin is retracted from said opening, with said mounting means resiliently biasing the latch pin toward the advanced position whereby the latch pin will be deflected to the retracted position by contact with the mounting board until relative lateral movement between the housing and the mounting board aligns the aperture with the opening to permit advancement of the latch pin to the advanced position and concomitant locking of the housing against further lateral movement relative to the mounting board.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said mounting means include:

a leaf spring; and

anchoring means for securing the leaf spring to the housing;

said latch pin being affixed to the leaf spring and said anchoring means being located remote from the latch pin.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the housing includes a blind hole communicating with the interior of the housing and said anchoring means include a member for entering the blind hole.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the housing includes a wall, a plate within the interior of the housing and having a portion spaced from the wall so as to lie between the wall and the coin compartment, and a hole passing through said portion of the plate, said anchoring means including:

a member for passing through the hole in said portion of the plate; and

means for moving said member, after the member is passed through the hole, to engage the member with the plate, between the plate and the wall, for anchoring the leaf spring to the plate with the latch pin passing through the aperture.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said self-latching security device includes:

two latch pins;

said mounting means include a leaf spring having opposite ends, one of said latch pins being affixed adjacent each of the opposite ends of the leaf spring; and

anchoring means mounted upon the leaf spring intermediate said opposite ends for securing the leaf spring to the housing.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the housing includes a wall, a plate within the interior of the housing and having a portion spaced from the wall so as to lie between the wall and the coin compartment, and a hole passing through said portion of the plate, said anchoring means including:

a member for passing through the hole in said portion of the plate; and

means for moving said member, after the member is passed through the hole, to engage the member with the plate, between the plate and the wall, for anchoring the leaf spring to the plate with the latch pin passing through the aperture.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the portion of the plate includes a slot spaced from said hole, and said anchoring means further include a tongue projecting from the leaf spring and a tab carried by the tongue for entering the slot.

8. The invention of claim 5 wherein the housing includes a wall, a plate within the interior of the housing and having a portion spaced from the wall so as to lie between the wall and the coin compartment, and a hole passing through said portion of the plate, said anchoring means including:

a bushing complementary to said hole for being seated therein with the leaf spring located so that the latch pins pass through the corresponding apertures in the housing; and

an eccentric positioned relative to said bushing such that the eccentric will be located between said portion of the plate and the wall upon seating of the bushing in the hole, said eccentric being mounted for rotation in the bushing between a first position wherein the eccentric is aligned with the bushing for insertion into the hole and a second position wherein the eccentric projects radially relative to the bushing to enable clamping of said portion of the plate between the leaf spring and the eccentric.

9. The invention of claim 8 including means for rotating the eccentric between the first and second positions in the housing.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the portion of the plate includes a slot spaced from said hole, and said 8 anchoring means further include a tongue projecting from the leaf spring and a tab carried by the tongue for entering the slot. 

1. In a public, coin-operated telephone installation system wherein a telephone housing, having at least one aperture therein communicating with the interior and exterior thereof at a predetermined location in the housing and a coin compartment therein which is lockable to close-off access to said aperture through the interior of the housing, is secured to a mounting board by fasteners which are affixed to the housing, extend longitudinally to enter the mounting board, and secure the housing thereto upon relative lateral movement between the housing and the mounting board, said mounting board having an opening at a position corresponding to the location of the aperture in the housing when the housing is secured by the fasteners to the mounting board, a self-latching security device comprising: at least one latch pin; and means for mounting the latch pin within the aperture of the housing for resilient deflection between an advanced position wherein the latch pin extends longitudinally from the housing for entering the corresponding opening in the mounting board, and a retracted position wherein the latch pin is retracted from said opening, with said mounting means resiliently biasing the latch pin toward the advanced position whereby the latch pin will be deflected to the retracted position by contact with the mounting board until relative lateral movement between the housing and the mounting board aligns the aperture with the opening to permit advancement of the latch pin to the advanced position and concomitant locking of the housing against further lateral movement relative to the mounting board.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said mounting means include: a leaf spring; and anchoring means for securing the leaf spring to the housing; said latch pin being affixed to the leaf spring and said anchoring means being located remote from the latch pin.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the housing includes a blind hole communicating with the interior of the housing and said anchoring means include a member for entering the blind hole.
 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the housing includes a wall, a plate within the interior of the housing and having a portion spaced from the wall so as to lie between the wall and the coin compartment, and a hole passing through said portion of the plate, said anchoring means including: a member for passing through the hole in said portion of the plate; and means for moving said member, after the member is passed through the hole, to engage the member with the plate, between the plate and the wall, for anchoring the leaf spring to the plate with the latch pin passing through the aperture.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said self-latching security device includes: two latch pins; said mounting means include a leaf spring having opposite ends, one of said latch pins being affixed adjacent each of the opposite ends of the leaf spring; and anchoring means mounted upon the leaf spring intermediate said opposite ends for securing the leaf spring to the housing.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the housing includes a wall, a plate within the interior of the housing and having a portion spaced from the wall so as to lie between the wall and the coin compartment, and a hole passing through said portion of the plate, said anchoring means including: a member for passing through the hole in said portion of the plate; and means for moving said member, after the member is passed through the hole, to engage the member with the plate, between the plate and the wall, for anchoring the leaf spring to the plate with the latch pin passing through the aperture.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the portion of the plate includes a slot spaced from said hole, and said anchoring means further include a tongue projecting from the leaf spring and a tab carried by the tongue for entering the slot.
 8. ThE invention of claim 5 wherein the housing includes a wall, a plate within the interior of the housing and having a portion spaced from the wall so as to lie between the wall and the coin compartment, and a hole passing through said portion of the plate, said anchoring means including: a bushing complementary to said hole for being seated therein with the leaf spring located so that the latch pins pass through the corresponding apertures in the housing; and an eccentric positioned relative to said bushing such that the eccentric will be located between said portion of the plate and the wall upon seating of the bushing in the hole, said eccentric being mounted for rotation in the bushing between a first position wherein the eccentric is aligned with the bushing for insertion into the hole and a second position wherein the eccentric projects radially relative to the bushing to enable clamping of said portion of the plate between the leaf spring and the eccentric.
 9. The invention of claim 8 including means for rotating the eccentric between the first and second positions thereof, said means being located in the coin compartment when the self-locking security device is installed in the housing.
 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the portion of the plate includes a slot spaced from said hole, and said anchoring means further include a tongue projecting from the leaf spring and a tab carried by the tongue for entering the slot. 